Author's Notes: Ahah! If you are enjoying this fic, do review, okay? It's the only way I'll know it's wanted and my only way of finding out what you think! (And of course, the only reward of a fanfic writer!)
I guess I shouldn't have made that comment about Vassilisa and Nikki and Arystide being of the second-generation as well… because in the universe of Gundam Wing, they shouldn't even be there: Uh… the thing is, they're based in a different Gundam universe. Arystide and Vassilisa Zalaguer, and Nikki Yamano were my OCs born out of the AsuCaga and KiraLacus ships (of Gundam Seed Destiny). Why do they have different surnames from their parents? It was supposed to be part of the subplots, the three of them hiding their identity. But I have too many subplots already, so I'll revert to the names they were supposed to use (Arystide Zala, Vassilisa Zala, Nikki Yamato). Anyway, the fact that they are meant to be in another Gundam universe doesn't have any bearing in this story, just think of them as plain OC's if you will…
The format for this chapter will be different. It will be longer than usual (yay!) and have several scenes, instead of just one or two. I think all chapters will be like this from now on!
And one last thing: if it's not too much trouble, please re-read the last chapter! I've made small but crucial changes to accommodate the characterization of Arystide, Vassilisa and Nikki. Nothing plot-changing, but it would make for a smoother read.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine. DOH.
Four Weddings and a DivorceChapter 10:
"I cannot believe the three of you." Dorothy murmured.
As one, the three Winner sons hung their heads in shame. She pulled out a slim cigarette and her silver lighter from her bag. She lit the cigarette, and after two drags, coughed delicately. She stood up and disposed of the cigarette in the nearest garbage bin.
"Attacking the only child of Kira and Lacus Yamato!" She shook her head as she walked back to the bench she had been sitting on. "You do know who they are, don't you?"
The three Winner sons fidgeted where they sat on the grassy lawn, still looking down.
"And as if that wasn't enough, you attacked Vassilisa Athha Zala as well!" She fanned herself with a hand.
"She slapped Ezra, Mom!" Yehan protested, his voice coming out as a whine.
"That was after you had pushed her, was it not? That was what Xavier told me, and Xavier never lies. Katrina and Aidan backed up what he said."
Yehan frowned. "But Mom—"
"Enough, Yehan Joseph Catalonia Winner!" Dorothy snapped, her hand flicking irritably. "I was told that you, and you," she pointed at each of the twins in turn, "had been mocking her even before you attacked her cousin as well. Chang Mei-Ling had to tell you off. How is it that a girl, two years younger than you, always needs to tell you what is right and is not right?"
Yehan looked down again, flushing a bright red. Yet he mumbled, "Still, that doesn't give her the right to slap Ezra."
"Maybe it does, given how he never seems to stand up against your mischief!" Dorothy's gaze shifted to Ezra, who didn't hazard meeting her gaze.
"And how many times must I tell you, Yossef!" She flung out her hand in frustration. "You are the eldest! You should be keeping your brothers in line, but no, you even make mischief with them!"
"Sorry…" Yossef mumbled.
"Do not apologize to me, apologize to Nikki Yamato and Vassilisa Zala!" Dorothy massaged her temples, muttering: "The daughter of Chairman Athrun Zala and Orb Chief Representative Cagalli Yula Athha, my goodness…"
Yehan actually had the gall to grin impishly and say: "It's not that bad, we're the sons of Master Al-Winner and Duchess Catalonia after all."
In response, Dorothy smiled a dangerously saccharine smile, which caused Yehan to gulp. "And I should think that said princes of both Arabian and European territories should know better than to treat a princess in such a brutish manner."
All three Winner sons slumped lower.
"Have you anything more to say for yourselves?" Dorothy looked sharply at them.
"Mom—" Yehan began, but Yossef quickly jabbed his elbow at his twin's ribs, silencing him.
"We did wrong," Yossef said. Ezra nodded in acquiescence, and Yehan followed suit.
"Good, at least you now understand that." Their mother reached out and cupped their chins in turn, making them meet her gaze. "Even if the trouble had been started by Nikki Yamato and Vassilisa Zala, it would still have been wrong to treat them in such a manner. And as that is not what happened, even more so…" She glanced at her watched and stood up. "It is nearly time for the meeting with Headmistress Ramius. We should head for her office now."
Yossef, Yehan and Ezra exchanged looks. Where was their father? He was supposed to arrive an hour ago, earlier than their mother. Dorothy was already walking to the Administration building, which was just in front of the lawn.
"Where's Dad?" Yehan demanded, frowning at Yossef.
"He was supposed to be on his way," Yossef said, pulling out his mobile phone and flipping it open, speed-dialed Quatre's number. His forked eyebrows drew together. "I can't reach his number."
"Where the heck is he!" Yehan growled, roughly running his hands through his pale blond hair.
"Probably with the lesser wives," Ezra said with mock nonchalance.
"Can you shut up about that?" Yehan hissed. "Dad would never compromise Mom—and us—for them."
Ezra shook his head. He's blind.
"Let's follow Mom," Yossef said, snapping his phone shut. His voice was carefully neutral and his mouth was set in a hard, straight line. "We won't accomplish anything here. Dad might be caught up somewhere. We'd be in more trouble if we make Headmistress Ramius wait." His brothers nodded their agreement and the three of them entered the Admin.
Inside the Building, they climbed the grand staircase, continuing on the right branch when the stairs forked at the landing. Huge plate glass windows stretched from the bottom of the landing to the ceiling, offering a clear view of the parking lot, lawns and buildings behind the Admin. Ezra peered down. He saw a familiar blond man standing by a black limo, surrounded by three women and several small children.
He looked familiar for he was nearly identical to Ezra. What is Father… Pressing his nose against the glass, Ezra watched. Quatre turned around and walked away. One of the women, the one with hair in a very fake shade of red, grasped his arm and was obviously shouting, flailing her free hand desperately, knocking the forehead of one of the two the children beside her. Ezra recognized her as Elirea.
Another woman, with chestnut hair that would have looked plain if not for how it was held in an elegant twist against her scalp, held Quatre's and Elirea's hands, removing Elirea from Quatre. She maintained her grip on him however. Ezra's eyes narrowed. Kiki… One day, that underhanded woman will get what she deserved; Ezra would make sure of that.
"Ezra," Yossef called from the top of the stairs, but Ezra ignored him.
The last woman, the pallid blond, was looking alternately at Quatre and the other wives. Sera clutched her son Albert closely, looking fearfully at Elirea who was now flailing both arms, now probably screaming even louder at Quatre, delaying even more the already very late man.
Why am I not surprised? Ezra clenched his teeth.
"Ezra!" Yehan called impatiently. "What are you standing there for? Hey, Ezra!" He shouted after the younger boy when the latter ran down the stairs.
"Ezra!" Yossef and Yehan shouted in unison, running after him.
"Don't follow me!" Ezra shouted, not looking back at them. Down the stairs, he doubled back and rushed out one of the back entrances, dashing for the parking lot.
"You always put her and her children first!" Elirea raged, stamping her foot. "You never pay any attention to us!" She gestured at her two children, nearly knocking one of them again with her rough movements.
Quatre sighed, and suddenly, Kiki's hands were on his shoulders, rubbing him soothingly. "That's not true, Elirea, Quatre cares about all of us…" Then her voice took on a measured amount of hurt. "And besides, Miss Dorothy is his first wife, which is why he must show a preference for her."
"I have told you beforehand that Dorothy and I have an urgent meeting with the Headmistress," Quatre said, his tone carefully neutral. "I will be late, I must be going."
"What about Querin and Quaria?" Elirea demanded. "The pre-schoolers have a presentation in their division, you're their father, you have to be there!"
"Don't make such demands, Elirea," Kiki said, her hands still on Quatre. "Katara herself understands." She smiled down at her own daughter. "I'm sure your children could as well."
Sera opened her mouth to speak. "Albert, he—"
"No, no!" Elirea cried. "He's going to watch our children, and that's final!"
"Why did you tell her anyway?" Quatre muttered to Kiki.
Kiki leaned closer to him and whispered audibly: "I didn't want to, but she was so insistent. I'm so sorry, Quatre."
"And you wouldn't even have told us about this stupid meeting if Kiki hadn't overheard you on the phone with that headmistress woman!" Elirea screamed.
"I am going to meet the Headmistress with Dorothy and our children," Quatre said firmly.
"You're so unfair!" Elirea screamed even louder.
"Stop please, you're making a scene." Quatre said. "You'll have everyone watching us."
"Oops, too late…" Kiki had a properly surprised and apologetic look on her face as she pointed where Ezra was standing. Her companions turned to where she was pointing.
Quatre's emerald eyes went wide. "Ezra… Yossef, Yehan…"
Ezra started. Yossef and Yehan? Ever so slightly, he turned his head. By his peripheral vision, he could see the twins were indeed standing slightly behind him. He turned, looking closely at them. A look of schooled passiveness was on Yossef's face, but his mouth was set even harder and he clutched his mobile phone so tightly that Ezra thought it might break. Yehan's pupils had dilated, his forked eyebrows drawn together, and his mouth was slightly open.
"Yossef, Yehan, Ezra…" Quatre walked towards them.
"Come back here!" Elirea shouted, following him, still flailing her arms. "Quatre, you come back—"
"Sssh!" Kiki grasped the second wife by the back of her shirt, and pulled her back roughly. The third wife's eyes were twinkling and a sly sneer was on her face as she watched Quatre approach his first wife's sons.
"Father," Ezra said, his voice an echo of Quatre's carefully neutral tone. "You are late." Without another word, he pivoted his heel and strode to the Admin Building. Yossef and Yehan were already ahead of him, their longer strides carrying them faster. He could see the twins were whispering furiously, finishing each other's sentences.
"Ezra—"
"Fortunately, I think the meeting is just about to start, Father." He didn't look at the man who was walking beside him.
They entered the building and walked up the steps in silence. Once at the top step, he looked where the Headmistress' Office was. The door closed behind the twins. Ezra and Quatre went to the same door and stepped inside the office.
Dorothy was seated on one of the two chairs nearest the Headmistress' table. There were two other chairs beside hers, occupied by Yossef and Yehan. They were mirrored by another row of three chairs. As Quatre made for the chair in front of Dorothy's, he stole a quick glance at the twins. Yossef was studiously looking at Dorothy, and Yehan stared straight ahead, arms crossed and slouching, obviously not giving up his chair. "Good afternoon," Quatre murmured as he leaned down and kissed Dorothy's cheek.
"Good afternoon," she replied, not even looking at him.
"Good afternoon, Headmistress Ramius," Quatre said.
"Good afternoon Mister Winner." Headmistress Ramius smiled, and graciously indicated the unoccupied seats. "Please, have a seat."
Quatre sat down on the chair in front of Dorothy's. Ezra was about to sit a seat apart from Quatre, but Dorothy stopped him with a 'look'. Ezra glared at his brothers as he sat down on the chair beside their father's.
With her elbows on the table and her hands steepled, Headmistress Ramius leaned forward. "As you know, we are here to discuss your sons' behavior…"
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"The Winner twins aren't exactly well-mannered, but you have to admit, your cousin can be very frustrating, he ticks off everyone," Houki Hahnenfuss-Jule (1) said.
"I know that, Houki." Vassilisa sighed. "But Nikki doesn't mean any of it. You know how he is like."
"I know how he is like." Houki absently tugged at her long braid of silvery hair. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke, and continued walking the path through the flower gardens. Then Houki looked at Vassilisa and said seriously: "But other people don't know how he is like. Such frankness and well-meaning, coupled with his open and childish nature… well, it's no wonder he offends people."
"Nikki is a good person!" Vassilisa crossed her arms over her chest and her golden-green eyes flashed belligerently.
"He is," her friend agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact that he offends people."
"What am I supposed to do with him?" Vassilisa sighed again.
"You have to tell him to watch his words," Houki advised. "And he has to learn to stand up for himself. You can't protect him forever—he should be the one protecting you, that's what a man is supposed to do."
Vassilisa laughed gently. "Auntie Shiho would disown you for saying that. Those are very sexist words."
Houki smiled. "I'm sure Mother wouldn't mind. She may be a strong woman, but she still is a woman."
They stepped out of the gardens, into one of the elementary division's playgrounds. Younger students were playing, crowding especially around the complex slide set, which was at the middle of the playground. Nearer the girls was a swing set for two, empty. Vassilisa and Houki looked at it, then looked at each other and grinned.
They each stood on a swing seat (they were too tall to sit comfortably), and with a push of their feet, they swung, as oblivious to the younger students as they were to the two sixth-graders. The buzz of excited child voices was indistinguishable to Vassilisa as she and Houki played on the swings. Then, two voices stood out.
"I saw your daddy at the pree-school," a little-girl voice said, her r's coming out as w's and syllables extending longer than necessary. "Your daddy was with four pree-school boys and giiiirls. What's your daddy doing theeeere?"
"My Daddy? At pre-school?" The other voice was also a little girl's, but Vassilisa noticed this one had far better diction. "My Daddy was with my baby brothers and baby sisters."
"Reaaally?" The first voice said. "But they're not your brothers and sisters!"
"They are," replied the second voice.
"Then why wasn't your mommy theeere? They had other moooommies."
"Because…" the first voice faltered. "We have different mommies."
"You are weiiiiird!"
"I'm not weird!"
"My sisters and me all have the same moooommyyyy. You're weiiiiiird."
"Am not!" The second voice retorted hotly.
"That's why your daddy left your mommy. You're aaaaall weird."
"We're not weird!" The second voice yelled.
"Your parents are going divoooorced—my mommy says that's weiiiiird."
Vassilisa sharply turned at that. In the sandbox nearest to the swing, two little girls were sitting beside a sand castle and a third one, a girl with golden curls, was standing up, glaring at three other little girls headed by a red-haired girl in pigtails. Vassilisa saw that Houki had also stopped swinging and was staring at the scene
"They look familiar," Vassilisa said.
"The little blond and the little redhead?"
"Yes."
"That little brat is Maylene Hawke," Houki said.
"Hawke? Sounds familiar."
Houki smiled wryly at her. "Lunamaria and Meyrin Hawke work under Father."
Vassilisa blanched. She didn't like those Hawkes much. There were two of them, sisters, about her parents' age, and working under Houki's father, often sent to work with her father, and they tended to be… clingy.
"My family is not weird!" The little girl with golden curls cried.
"Is too! Weiiiiird!" Maylene goaded.
"Stop it!"
"And I'm sure that's the Winners' little sister, that little girl with curly hair," Houki told Vassilisa.
"Really!" That sweet-looking little girl?
"Weiiiiiiird!"
"Stop! Stop!"
Maylene and her friends all stuck out their tongues at the blond. The little Winner's friends were patting her shoulders comfortingly.
"She shouldn't bully her classmates like that," Vassilisa stepped down the swing and headed for the sandbox. She was grabbed by the arm and pulled back. "Houki!"
Houki shook her head. "No, Vassilisa. You don't even know those children. Little children should be allowed to settle their fights amongst themselves."
"But we can't just watch!"
"Yes, we can."
"Weiiiird! Weiiiird! Weiiiird!" Maylene and her friends were chanting.
"Stop!" The Winner girl cried, covering her ears with her hands.
"Stop it!" Her friends yelled.
"You're soooooo weird!" Maylene flicked a finger at the other girl's forehead.
"Don't do that!" The Winner girl screamed, and quickly lashed out, backhanding the redhead.
"Waaah!" Maylene wailed. "Teacher, teacher—she hurt me!"
The teacher came running to their corner of the playground. "What is happening?" She glanced at the little girls, especially at the furious Wendy and the sobbing Maylene. "Wendy Winner! What did you do to Maylene?"
"…."
Mr. Johnson shook his head. "Come on Wendy, let's talk to Headmistress Ramius."
Wendy followed meekly, allowing Mr. Johnson to lead her away. Maylene was hiccupping from all her crying, but managed to stick out a tongue at Wendy's retreating back just the same.
"Let's go." Vassilisa clasped Houki's hand and dragged her, following the teacher and Wendy.
"Where?" Houki blinked.
"We have to tell Headmistress Ramius what happened," Vassilisa said.
A demure giggle bubbled from Houki. "Vassilisa Athha Zala, Pilot of Justice." (2)
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After Quatre and Dorothy had apologized to the Headmistress for their sons' behavior, and the Headmistress said she wanted to hear what happened from the Winner boys, Yossef started talking.
Yossef shrugged. "Basically Yehan and I were teasing Ms. Zala, and she got quite angry with us—not that it stopped us…"
Ezra looked out the corner of his eye. Their father was mouthing something and trying his best to catch their mother's attention by an oddly regular blinking of his eyes, almost like a code. Their mother didn't catch this, or so she would have it seem; Ezra saw her forked eyebrows draw together in annoyance.
"And then Mei-Ling came and scolded us, but Vassilisa told her to mind her own business and to stop badgering other people. Mei-Ling got pretty angry, but we told her to let it go. And then—"
"Yamato became really annoying," Yehan interjected. Dorothy looked sharply at him and Quatre shook his head in warning.
"Well, after a while, Nikki Yamato came and said it's so much easier to tell other people what is right, than to see it and follow it for ourselves, don't we agree," Yossef had a sour expression on his face.
"See, he's provoking us!" Yehan cried.
The Headmistress smiled mildly. "Maybe Nikki Yamato didn't mean to offend you and he was just being sincere."
Ezra stifled a snort. Nikki was sincere alright, and that was exactly what annoyed people—the way he was well-meaning and utterly frank about it. He didn't have a single ounce of tact in his system.
"And where does Vassilisa Athha Zala come in?" Asked the Headmistress.
"We got pretty annoyed at Yamato, he kept putting on that innocent face and saying he didn't mean any offense," Yossef said. "Vassilisa came between us and Yamato."
"And Yehan pushed her away?" Headmistress turned to Yehan for confirmation.
He nodded reluctantly, then he cried: "Well I may have pushed her, but she slapped Ezra! And to think he was just helping her to stand up."
"Is that what happened, Ezra?"
"Yes, Headmistress."
She rested her chin on her hands and regarded the three boys thoughtfully. "I see. Then I need to talk Ms. Zala as well. What do you say?"
Yehan brightened immediately, but Quatre and Dorothy discreetly shook their heads in unison. The younger twin slumped in his seat.
"That wouldn't be necessary, Headmistress," Ezra said. "She was probably just reacting to the hostility—being threatened might have caused her to act on impulse."
"Very well then, Ezrael." Headmistress Ramius nodded, with what looked like an approving smile on her face. "I appreciate your honesty and consideration, and I suppose the three of you have learned your lesson. I would not be giving any of you detention, or any misconduct records."
Ezra perked at this, and grinned widely at his older brothers, who both gave him highfives. Yehan whooped happily.
"However—" their faces fell, "I shall be assigning you to library duty. I'm sure the librarians and the student assistants would be happy to receive extra help, especially since it is inventory period."
Quatre and Dorothy both shook hands with the Headmistress, thanking her for her consideration. They talked for a few minutes, during which the three Winner brothers were congratulating themselves for getting away lightly, all things considered. Then the family headed for the door, escorted by Headmistress Ramius.
As soon as they stepped out of the office, they heard somebody call: "Headmistress Ramius!"
They turned to the voice. Ezra saw a teacher approach holding Wendy by the hand. Behind them, a girl with honey-wheat tresses pulled back her companion, a taller girl with a long braid of hair a shocking shade of silvery-white. Vassilisa… and was that Houki Jule? The two girls disappeared around the corner.
Yossef nudged him. "What's Houki Jule doing here?" Ezra shrugged.
"What is the matter, Mr. Johnson?" The Headmistress looked down at the little Winner girl with concern.
"Wendy… she just slapped one of her classmates."
Dorothy gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. Quatre put a supportive arm around her, but she kneeled down and put her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Baby, why did you do that?"
"Maylene is very mean, Mommy." Wendy fidgeted but her aquamarine eyes firmly held her mother's ice blue gaze.
"What do you mean by that?" Headmistress Ramius sat on her heels beside Dorothy, looking the little girl in the eye.
"She told me…" Wendy twiddled her fingers, occasionally looking down at her hands but obviously fighting the urge not to look the adults in the eye. "She said that… myfamily'sweirdcausetheotherbabieshavedifferentmommiesandthat'swhyMommyandDaddyaregettingdivorced."
"What?" Dorothy asked softly.
"She said that my family's weird… be-because the other babies have different mommies… and that's why… Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced."
A stifled gasp came from Dorothy. Ezra stiffened and he saw Quatre noticeably tensed as well. Yossef's mouth opened slightly in outrage and Yehan cried: "WHAT?"
"… I think I need to talk to you again, Mr. and Mrs. Winner," Headmistress Ramius said, standing up.
"Of course," Quatre said. Dorothy was stroking Wendy's hair and nodded at the Headmistress' words.
"The three of you may go now," Headmistress Ramius told the Winner boys. "Now please Mr. and Mrs. Winner… and you too Mr. Johnson…"
"QUATRE!"
"Oh shit…" Yehan muttered. Ezra felt his hands grow cold and his cheeks heat up. No way. No way…
Holding her daughter's hand, Dorothy slowly stood up and turned to the sight. Three lesser wives and four small children were at the top of the stairs and making their way to where Quatre stood.
"Daddy?" With her free hand, Wendy clutched the sleeve of their father's coat and tugged. Quatre looked down at her briefly and gave her a reassuring smile.
"We have to go to the preschool, NOW!" Elirea stamped her foot for emphasis, dragging her two children with her.
"Oh Elirea, why are you so impatient?" Kiki said sweetly. "I'm sure they're just about done now, aren't you, Quatre dear?"
Dorothy's perfect posture stiffened, and she clutched Wendy's hand tighter. Ezra could hear the sounds of Yehan's teeth grinding together.
"Look," Quatre began. Elirea's face instantly turned as red as her hair.
"WHAT NOW?" She screamed. "We're going to the preschool! You're so unfair, Quatre, you always—"
"Please, Elirea," Kiki held the second wife by the arm. She gave a sugary smile to everyone. "Temper…"
Headmistress Ramius' face was politely neutral; the clasped hands she was wringing behind her back the only indication of her unease. Mr. Johnson was hardly as discreet; he had fixed his gaze to his toes.
"You should go, Quatre," Dorothy said. "I can handle this."
He looked dismayed. "But Dorothy—"
"QUATRE!" ("Elirea, temper…")
"Headmistress?"
The Headmistress opened her door. "Of course Mrs. Winner, do come inside… Good day, Mr. Winner…"
"Daddy!" Wendy tugged at Quatre's sleeve again as Dorothy led her inside the office.
"Dorothy." Quatre reached out and touched her shoulder with his free hand.
"Wendy…" Yossef clasped Wendy's wrist, and gently, but firmly, removed her grip on Quatre's sleeve.
"Bye Mom," Yehan kissed Dorothy on the cheek, Yossef and Ezra following suit. Each also ruffled their sister's hair before heading for the stairs.
"Father," Ezra nodded as he passed Quatre.
"Ezra," Quatre looked from his sons to his wife. "Dorothy…"
"QUATRE!"
Yehan glared at the noisy second wife as they passed by. Ezra glared too, only, he glared at Kiki, whose sickening smile didn't falter.
"Daddy…" Ezra heard Wendy's voice. Then, the sound of a door closed shut.
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"I… kind of… feel bad for them…" the honey-wheat girl. She peeked from behind the wall.
"Of course you do," Houki told her, peeking as well. "Anyone with the smallest amount of sensitivity does."
It had been a while since the Headmistress had ushered the youngest Winner, the Romefeller princess and the teacher inside her office; and the assorted Winners, including the three eldest sons, had gone down the stairs and left. Their strange family arrangement was so outlandishly inappropriate that Vassilisa had found herself turning red in embarrassment for the children. And she had been far too embarrassed to approach the Headmistress in the middle of such a situation.
"Vassilisa, lunch is going to end pretty soon." Houki was looking at her wrist watch. "You don't suppose we could just come later—"
"No!" Vassilisa shook her head. "I'm pretty sure the Headmistress will lead them out any moment now. Let's go closer so we won't miss them."
The two girls leaned on the wall beside the Headmistress' office, Vassilisa watching the door, and Houki keeping an eye on her watch, anxiously tugging her braid all the while.
Three minutes before the bell rang, the door opened. The beautiful Winner wife emerged, thanking the Headmistress, clutching the hand of her daughter who had fixed her stare upon her patent leather shoes. Mr. Johnson was saying a few words to the concerned mother, when Vassilisa spoke.
"Please excuse me, Headmistress Ramius."
Mr. Johnson frowned at her, obviously annoyed at being interrupted. Headmistress Ramius looked surprised. "Ms. Vassilisa Zala, what is it?"
She felt the Winner wife looked at her curiously. Vassilisa wanted to sink right through the floor. Probably scrutinizing the one who dared to slap her son's pretty face. "I just wanted to let you know… it wasn't her fault, the little girl…"
"Yossef and Yehan Winner's sister," Houki piped up.
"Wendy," Headmistress said. The little girl looked up at the mention of her name.
"Yes… it wasn't really her fault," Vassilisa said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the teacher's frown darken. It only urged her to go on. "The truth is, Maylene Hawke and her friend had been tormenting Wendy while she was playing with her friends. She was trying to talk to them properly, but the other girls wouldn't stop provoking her. Finally, Maylene struck her forehead, and that was when she retaliated with a slap."
"Is that what happened, Wendy?" The little girl nodded at the Headmistress' question.
"Well, this changes things quite a bit…" Headmistress Ramius said. She turned to the teacher. "Mr. Johnson, why didn't you tell me the whole story?"
"Well I… Wendy Winner didn't deny it when I asked her if she slapped Maylene."
"She wouldn't deny it, because she really did," Vassilisa said. "But Mr. Johnson came in time only to see Maylene crying and telling on about Wendy."
"I was there as well, Headmistress," Houki said. "What Vassilisa said is true."
Mr. Johnson was practically glaring at her. Vassilisa firmly ignored him. It's not my fault he didn't carefully assess the situation. Not my fault that he looked like a fool. Instead, she met the Headmistress' gaze squarely.
"Thank you for telling us that, Ms. Zala, Ms. Jule." Headmistress Ramius nodded graciously. "I think we need to talk some more, Mrs. Winner, Mr. Johnson. Some other time, with Maylene Hawke's parents. Please inform them, Mr. Johnson." The teacher nodded, still glowering at Vassilisa and Houki.
"We'll be leaving now," Houki said. Both girls dropped into quick curtsies.
"Excuse me…" Both girls turned to the Winner wife. "I am Dorothy Catalonia… Winner. Thank you for your help."
"It was no trouble," Houki said, shaking the hand Dorothy offered. "Besides, it was really Vassilisa's idea…" Vassilisa shot a 'look' at the other girl. Dorothy turned to her.
Wendy tugged at her skirt. "Thank you big sister," the little girl said when she looked down. Vassilisa smiled.
"Vassilisa Athha Zala…" She shook the older woman's hand and tried not to return her gaze, but there was something compelling about Dorothy Winner's ice blue eyes. Vassilisa found herself meeting the look, trying not to be intimidated.
"I would also like to apologize for how my sons behaved towards you and your cousin," Dorothy told her.
"I am also at fault," Vassilisa said. "I apologize for the way I treated Ezrael."
"MOM!" Came a voice that was distinctly one of the Winner twins', and judging from the volume, was certain to be Yehan Winner's.
"You came back?" Dorothy said. The three Winner boys were by at the top of the stairs and walking towards them.
"Excuse us," Vassilisa said to Dorothy. With small, quick steps, she and Houki walked towards the stairs, pretending not to notice the confused looks the Winner boys cast towards them as they passed by each other.
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Ezra was pretty sure that Vassilisa Zala and Houki Jule caught the weirded-out looks that he and the twins gave them, but he was grateful that they didn't make an issue out of it just the same. The last thing they needed was a Vassilisa-Yehan 'catfight' (as Mei-Ling called it) and right in front of the Headmistress' office and their mother too.
"Mom!" Yehan called again. He jogged the last few paces towards her. "That was Vassilisa Zala! Did you tell her off?" A mischievous look was on his face.
Dorothy frowned at him. "I most certainly did not! I apologized for your sorry lack of manners towards her and her cousin." Yehan sighed.
"Now I'm certain that was Houki Hahnenfuss Jule," Yossef said, looking over his shoulder at the two girls.
Ezra nodded, picking up Wendy who had stretched out her arms at him, wanting to be carried. "Yes it was."
"What was she doing here?"
Ezra shrugged. "I don't know."
Dorothy's eyes widened, looking from Houki Jule to the Winner boys. "Oh no. Oh dear. Please do not tell me you are planning to pick on Ms. Jule this time!"
"Of course not," Yossef said quickly.
At the same time, Yehan said: "That's a thought." At the looks everyone gave him, he held up both hands: "I was kidding!"
"Meany!" Wendy pointed an accusing finger at Yehan.
"That's not even funny," Ezra said, shaking his head.
"It most certainly was not…" Dorothy had a hand over her heart. "The daughter of Councilor Hahnenfuss and Supreme Chairman Jule, goodness me…"
(1) Okay, so this is meaningful only to Shiho Hahnenfuss fans, but I'll explain it anyway because YzaShi is one of my favorite ships (and Houki is my OC born of that ship). In honor of her fighting skills, Yzak's nickname for Shiho is Housenka which means Balsam/Phoenix Flower, because when she attacks, she sends out rays in all directions and creates explosions, the resulting appearance of which looks like a blossom. (Isn't that sweet? I think so, when considering the guy involved is extremely military-oriented. ) So, I named their daughter Houki because of the similarity in sound, and meaning—one of the meanings of Houki is Comet.
(2) Aside from how I made Vassilisa really sensitive to ideas of fairness (hah, she's not so different from Mei-Ling after all!), one of the mobile suits her dad piloted was the Justice. (Although in this case, Pilot means more of Director/Bearer instead of Driver. Think of it as an inside joke between friends. I shouldn't really be explaining my own pun… )
Author's Notes: Okay, that was a very children-oriented chapter. Don't fret. I promise a ton of 4D (and probably some of the other couples as well) in the next chapter.
I can't stress it enough, please review:) And yes, I know that Lacus has become the Chairwoman or whatever, but I honestly can't take her seriously, so I'd rather that though she remains influential, she's not into politics. Yzak is most deserving to be the leader, I would say. And don't kill me for my mashing together of two universes; we're here for the romance and drama, not the politics! (I do apologize for the Gundam Seed angles though… looks like I need to write some AsuCaga and YzaShi!) As I said, just think of them as plain OCs.